Energy / Climate Change
October 6, 2004
80,000 Participating in IBM Japan's Eco Program
Keywords: Energy Conservation Manufacturing industry NGO / Citizen Reduce / Reuse / Recycle
IBM Japan Ltd. started a corporate environmental program it calls an "Eco-Marathon" in April 2004, in which employees and their family members pledge to work on activities for environmental protection in their daily lives, and try to achieve the goals they have set for themselves. In addition to the conventional corporate environmental activities, the company has introduced this program to develop the employees' environmental awareness through voluntary activities.
The participants include about 40,000 employees of the IBM Japan Group and 40,000 family members, about 80,000 in total. Twenty items suggested by the company include such things as "setting the temperature of air conditioners one degree higher in summer and one degree lower in winter," and "carrying reusable shopping bags at all times, and selecting products with simple packaging." Participants can select some items from these 20 as well as making their own pledges, for example, "commute to work by walking an hour instead of using the car (except on rainy days)." Over 600 such voluntary pledges have been submitted so far. Each item is rated on a five-point scale, depending on its difficulty level and degree of contribution to the environment and society.
On the company intranet, participants grade their monthly self-evaluations from one to four, according to their achievement levels. Their achievements will be assessed based on points gained, reflecting the levels of contributions and achievements. Increases or decreases of household power consumption are also counted in the evaluation. The points will be summed up in October 2004, and the top five families will be invited to an IBM Environmental Symposium to be held in Sapporo, Japan, in November 2004, to make presentations on their activities.
IBM Japan plans to continue the Eco-Marathon as one of its annual programs, and enhance its support for this kind of activities among other companies and local governments.
Posted: 2004/10/06 03:14:05 PM
Japanese version
The participants include about 40,000 employees of the IBM Japan Group and 40,000 family members, about 80,000 in total. Twenty items suggested by the company include such things as "setting the temperature of air conditioners one degree higher in summer and one degree lower in winter," and "carrying reusable shopping bags at all times, and selecting products with simple packaging." Participants can select some items from these 20 as well as making their own pledges, for example, "commute to work by walking an hour instead of using the car (except on rainy days)." Over 600 such voluntary pledges have been submitted so far. Each item is rated on a five-point scale, depending on its difficulty level and degree of contribution to the environment and society.
On the company intranet, participants grade their monthly self-evaluations from one to four, according to their achievement levels. Their achievements will be assessed based on points gained, reflecting the levels of contributions and achievements. Increases or decreases of household power consumption are also counted in the evaluation. The points will be summed up in October 2004, and the top five families will be invited to an IBM Environmental Symposium to be held in Sapporo, Japan, in November 2004, to make presentations on their activities.
IBM Japan plans to continue the Eco-Marathon as one of its annual programs, and enhance its support for this kind of activities among other companies and local governments.
Posted: 2004/10/06 03:14:05 PM
Japanese version
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